Biography

Tom Silva is the general contractor on the long-running PBS home improvement series This Old House and its spinoff Ask This Old House. He has been part of the show since 1986, bringing decades of hands-on expertise and practical advice to viewers nationwide. Growing up in a family of tradespeople in Massachusetts, Tom’s first major project was working with his father and brother to build a basement fallout shelter beneath their 1787 Colonial home. Renovating homes from a young age sparked his passion for construction, which led him to work in his family business, Silva Brothers Construction, a company co-owned by him and his brother that focuses on quality craftsmanship in the Boston area. Tom is known for his respect for traditional building techniques combined with a willingness to embrace new tools and materials that stand the test of time.